By Rebekah Borucki and Anna Rabko
Are the people who truly changed the world the ones history books simply forgot?
Awesome Activists by Rebekah Borucki serves as the premier entry in the Hidden Histories series, a collection designed to broaden the scope of traditional biography for young readers. With vibrant and engaging illustrations by Anna Rabko, this juvenile nonfiction work introduces students to a diverse cast of historical and contemporary figures whose contributions have often been omitted from standard textbooks. Borucki weaves together the stories of changemakers from the LGBTQ+ rights, disability justice, social equity, and environmental movements. The book focuses on the human element of progress, emphasizing that the fight for people and the planet is ongoing and multifaceted. Recognized as a Children’s Pick and a standout title for 2025, the volume is praised for its ability to simplify complex social dynamics into stories that children can grasp and value. By highlighting those in the shadows, Borucki ensures that history feels inclusive and relevant to every child who picks up the book.
This book earns its place in any Changemaker collection by demonstrating the variety of ways individuals can shape their communities. The narratives link directly to several Sustainable Development Goals, most notably SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities and SDG 13: Climate Action, by illustrating the courage required to protect the environment and fight for fair treatment. Within the IB framework, the book provides a concrete way to teach the ‘risk-taker’ and ‘caring’ traits, as students see how activists often put themselves in uncomfortable positions to help others. A teacher could use the environmental activism section as an entry point for a Grade 3 unit on shared resources, challenging students to design a local “impact project” inspired by one of the figures in the text. This approach shifts the student from being a passive consumer of history to an active participant who recognizes their own agency. Ultimately, Awesome Activists is a vital tool for educators because it replaces the idea of the “superhero” with the reality of the persistent citizen, showing that small, principled choices lead to global shifts.
